Paper supporting and feeding means



Apg@ 9 E929., J. SUNDSL'RAN@ M7938@ PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MEANS Filed;I Oct. l5, 192.5 2 Sheecs-Sheet l April-9,1929- o. ,.J. sUNDsTRAND 1,708,284

PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MEANS Filed Oct. 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 ADD\NG..TAPE.

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J3 fwn Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNI-TED STATES 1,708,284 PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR J. SUNDSTBAND, OF ROCKFOBD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A COR- PORATION OF DELAWARE.

PAPER SUPPORTING AND FEEDING MEANS.

Application led October 15, 1923. Serial No. 668,514.

This invention has special reference to computing machines capable of performing a class of work which, for convenience, may be termed cash registerwork, as well as a general range of computations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and d1- vision. It is desirable to record cash register wor y and the miscellaneous computations upon separate tapes, the papercarriage being shiftable to place either tape 1n operative relation to the printing mechanism. It is not desirable, however, t-hat both tapes should be fed whenever it is necessary to record upon one of the tapes; and one object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the tapes may be fed independently.-

Another object of the invention vis to provide means 'whereby the tape-feeding means shall be automatically connectedto. and disconnected from the driving means as the paper carriage is moved to place the tape 1n or out of printing position.

In cash register -work double spacing of the printed lines is usually desired, inasmuch as it is frequently necessary to make pencll notations in conjunction with the various imprints. For miscellaneous computations single spacing is usually preferred. further object, therefore, of the invention is to provide independent adjusting means whereby the line-space mechanism may be set to feed single space or double space for either or both tapes, as desired, the adjusting means being of such character as not to be affected by lateral movement of the paper carriage.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmental side elevation of an adding and listing machine equipped with a paper carriage embodying the features of my 1nvention. Fig. 2 is a fragmental end view of the aper carriage. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of t e'paper lcarriage with arts in section. Fig. 4 is a fraginental plan view of the righthand end of the paper carriage. Figs. 5, 6

and 7 are views of a flexible rod comprised in the mechanism. Fig. v8 illustrates specimens of work done upon the machine.

The machine shown in the drawings is substantially similar to the one fully disclosed 60 in the Sundstrand Patent No. 1,198,487, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to machines of this type.

For cash register work the Sundstrand adding machine is placed upon a cabinet containing a cash drawer, suitable means being provided whereby operation of the machine controls the latch for the drawer. The cabinet referred to and the connection between the cash drawer and the adding machine are not herein illustrated,as they are well. known and the details thereof do not affect the present invention.

The framework of the machine is indicated at 1. 2 is the frame of the paper carriage, said carriage being mounted for sliding 05 movement transversely of the machine onv rails 4 and 5. Two supply rolls (not shown) are mounted side by side on the rod 6. The left-hand tape 7 is employed for cash register work, the narrower tape at the right-hand side of the paper carriage being reserved for miscellaneous additions and other computations. For each tape there is provided a separate platen, the platen for cash register work being indicated at 9 and the platen 75 for miscellaneous computations being shown at 10. In conjunction with each platen there is employed a suitable number of ordinary feed rolls (not shown). The platen 9 is fixed upon a shaft 11, one end of which is journalled in the left-hand end of the paper carriage, and the other end of which shaft is rotatably mounted in a sleeve 12 which is fixed to a short shaft 13 journalled in the right-hand end of the paper carriage. The sleeve 12 forms one end of the platen 10, the

4other end of saidplaten being rotatably at 14 on the shaft 11. To the left-handl end of the shaft 11 is secured a linger wheel 15, a similar wheel 16 being fixed to the outer end 90 of the shaft 13. To the outer end of each of said shafts is fixed a ratchet wheel 17 and 18 (Figs. 3 and 4). The ratchet wheel -17 is arranged to be engaged by a pawl 19 which is pivoted on the outer end of a rod 20. Said rod is clamped to the lower end of an arm 21 which is fixed to the outer end of a transverse rod or shaft 22, said shaft being journaled in the frame of the paper carriage. It will be seen that the rod 20 is supported to swing 100 back and forth, as indicated by the full-line and dotted-line positions of the arm 21 in Fig. 1.

'The ratchet wheel 18 is arranged to be engaged by a pawl 23 (Fig. 3) which is pivoted 105 upon the outer end of a rod 24. The rod 24 is clamped in and thus supported by an arm 25 which is fixed to the outer end of a rod or shaft 26 which is j ournaled in alinement with the rod or shaft 22. The right-hand end of the rod 22 is reduced in diameter to it within an axial opening 27 in the rod 26. The pawl 23 and the arm 25 are like the pawl 19 and the arm 21, respectively, illustrated in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the rod 24 is supported to swing back and forth, similarly to the rod 20.

For each of the line-space pawls 19 and 23 there is rovided means for controllin the extent o engagement of the pawl Wit its ratchet wheel. This control means may be of any suitable character. As herein shown it consists of a lever 28 (Fig. 2) pivoted-at 29, the lower end of said lever constituting a shield 30 to engage a roller 3l on the forward end of the pawl.

The rods 20 and 24 are iexibly connected together so as to form, in effect, a single ilexible rod. The means herein shown for this purpose comprises an intermediate rod-section 32, the ends ot which are connected to the ends of the rods 20 and 24 for limited sliding and pivotal movement. wWhile the connection between the sections 20, 24 and 32 may be of any suitable character, the connection shown in Figs. 5, G and 7 has been found satisfactory. Referring to Fig. 5, the section 20 has an axial opening 33 to receive a circular head 34 on the adjacent end of the intermediate section 32. Said head is carried upon a Hat stem 35. The end of the section 20 is slotted at 36 to accommodate the stem 35, there being sufficient clearance between the walls of the slot 36 and the sides of the neck 35 to allow a limited amount of pivotal movement. The connection between the sections 20 and 32 constitutes a universal joint and a telescoping or slidable connection. The connection between the sections 24 and 32 is similar to that shown in Fig. 5. The inner ends of the sections 2() and 24 are tapered so that the diameter of the joints between the sections 20,24 and 32 shall be approximately the same in all positions.

The means for swinging the arms 21 and 25 to reciprocate the pawls 19 and 23 comprises a plate 37 (Figs. 1 and 3) mounted to lslide longitudinally of the machine. In the upper edge of said plate is a notch 38 to receive the jointed rod formed of the sections 20, 32 and 24. In the present embodiment of the invention the means for reciprocating the slide plate 37 comprises a lever 39 pivoted on the center 40, the upper arm of said lever carrying a stud 41 that lies in a notch 42 in the lower edge of the slide plate. The lower arm of the lever 39 is connected through the medium of the link 43 to an arm 44 which is fixed upon the left-hand end of the main-rock shaft 45. A handle 46 is connected to the opposite end of the rock shaft 45 through linkage 47.

The paper carriage 2 may be locked in the positions to which it is adjusted by any suitable means, as, for example, a carriage stop arm 48 (Figs. 1 and 3) the upper end of which arm is adapted to enter a notch 49 in the rear edge of a plate 50. Said plate is fixed to a ro 51 which is journalled in the aper carriage and is provided at one end) with an operating lever 52. By depressin the lever 52 the plate 50 may be raised suthciently to clear the stop arm 48.

When the stop arm 48 engages in the notch 49, as shown in Fig. 3, the cash register tape 7 lies directly behind the type bars (not shown). When the carriage 2 is shifted to the left until the stop arm 48 lies in the space 53 between the end of the plate 50 and the adjacent end plate of the paper carriage, the adding tape 8 lies directly behind the type bars.

As the carriage 2 is shifted laterally, the rod sections 20, 32 and 24 slide through the notch 38 in the plate 37. When the paper carriage is in position for cash register work, the line-space actuating plate 37 is in engagement with the rod-section 20, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 3. In the operation of the handle 46, the plate 37 is reciprocated lengthwise of the machine, the rod-section 20 necessarily moving with it. The line-space pawl 19 is pivoted on the outer end'ot' the rod 20; consequently when the plate 37 is reciprocated the pawl 19 is actuated to turn the ratchet wheel 17 and the platen-section 9. The movement of the rod-section 20 does not affect the rod-section 24 and hence the platensection 10 is not rotated.

When the operator shifts the paper carriage toward the left in Fig. 3 to place the adding platen 10 directly ehind the type bars, the rod-section 32 in passing through thel notch 38 in the plate 37 serves to guide the left-hand end of the rod-section 24 through said notch. Upon operation of the machine, the plate 37 will cause the rod-section 24 to move lengthwise of the machine, thus actuating the pawl 23 to turn the platensection 10, the platen-section 9 meanwhile remaining at rest.

In the plan view, Fig. 3, the rodsection 24 is not in its rearmost position.

Inasmuch as the pawl and ratchet mechanisms for thel platens are independently driven and independently adjustable, it will be seen that only one of the platens will be operated at any given time, and that the line space mechamsms may be set for singlespace or double-space feed movements, as desired.

In practice it is usual to provide rewinding mechanism for winding up the cash register tape, but inasmuch as such mechanism has no direct connection with the present invention, it has not been illustrated herein.

The rods 22 and 26 constitute in effect. a long sectional pivot which is journalled in the paper carriage at relatively remote points and thus is well adapted to resist the bending stresses which arise when the slidable plate 37 reciprocates.

f lVhile the present embodiment of the invention has been described in considerable detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In an adding machine, in combination, a laterally movable paper carriage, two alined platens rotatably mountedin said carriage, two line-space mechanisms each connected to one of said platens, two rods each connected to one of said line-space mechanisms, a guide member the ends of which are connected to the ends of said rods by slidable and pivotal joints, and a member Vmovable to and' fro in the operation of the adding machine and having` a notch through which said rods and said guide member are slidable as the carriage is laterally shifted.

Inpan adding machine, in combination, a laterally movable paper carriage, two alined platens rotatably mounted in said carriage, two line space mechanisms each connected to one of said platens, two rods extending parallel with the platens and each connected to one of said line-space mechanisms, a guide member flexibly connecting said rods, and a member movable to and fro in the operation of the adding machine and having a notch through which said rods and said uide member are slidable as the carriage 1s laterally shifted.

3. In an adding machine, in combination, a

laterally movable paperl carriage, two alined platens rotatably mounted in said carriage, two line-space ratchet wheels each connected to one of said platens, two pawls each for operating one of said ratchet wheels, two rods extending parallellwith the platens and each connected to one of said pawls, a guide member between and connected to said rods, and a member nrovable to and fro in the operation of the adding machine and arranged to engage said rods and said guide member as the carriage is laterally shifted.

4. In an adding machine, in combination, a laterally movable paper carriage, two alined platens rotatably -mounted in said carriage, independent line-space mechanisms for said platens, a member movable to and fro in the operation of the adding machine, and guiding means connecting said line-space mechanisms for alternately bringing said mechanisms into operative relation with said member when the carriage is shifted laterally.

5. In an adding machine, in combination, a laterally movable paper carriage having two alined platens rotatably mounted thereon, independently adjustable line-space mechanisms for said platens, a member movable to and fro in the operation of the adding machine and adapted to alternately engage said line space mechanisms, and a flexible member between. said mechanisms adapted to positively guide Said movable member into eugagement with either of said mechanisms as the carriage is shifted laterally.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto allixed my signature.

OSCAR J. SUNDSTRAND. 

